The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-03-03
=-ssgt7' e III
MILLIoNAIREs IN POLITICS.

Carl schurz Thinks Their Influence
p for EVIL.
In a letter 70 a gentleman in Boston
Carl Schurz says: .'sss'
One Of the most significant figures
in the public life of our days is the mil
iionaire in politics. His appearance is
by no means of evil under all circum.
stances. When men of wealth devote
their leisure and opportunity to the
study Of public questions, endeavor to
qualify themselves for tho discharge of
public trust, and then seek official DO.
sition for the purpose of employing
their abilities for the public benefit,
they may reuder very great service and
become a blessing to the community.
The country has reason to congratu-
late itself upon the fact that so ma ny
young men of means and leasure have
of late shown disposition to give
their abilities and time to public mat
ters in the fight spirit.
But we find in politics millionaires of
another class who are curse. mean
the rich men, who, without marked
qualifications for important positions,
and without having earned promotion
by useful and distinguished public SER
vice, seek high Office merely on the
strength of their money, either to use
its power for their own advantage or
to add the conspicuous honors of high
political station to their wealth. The
very appearance on the field of politics
of millionaires whose money is their
only, or at least their principal. title to
consideration is an element of corrup-
ton, for it means that in some way
somebody or something is to be bought
1t means the employment of the mil
lionaire's money to procure his election
to the place he covats either through
the direct bribery of individuals or
through the bribery of political or
ganization with campaign funds. 1t
can not mean anything else. In either
form it is corruption; in the latter form
corruption especially insiduous and de-
moralizing, because it is usually called
by different name.
The consequences of the invasion of
public LIE by millionaires of this class
are already disclosing themselves
One seat after another in the senate of
the United States is falling into their
hands. In some cases the purchase is
matter of notoriety. l know of no
recent occurrence more alarming than
the refusal of the senate to investigate
the charges of corruption made by re-
spectacle parties with regard to the
election of a millionaire senator from
Ohio. l have read the charges, as we'll
as the evidence upon which they are
based; also the arguments made in the
senate against investigating them; and
do not hesitate to say that if charges
of corruption in senatorial elections
based upon evidence creating 50 strong
presumption are thrown aside by the
senate as not entitled to an invcstiga-
ton upon reasoning so fimsy, there
Will be, Us far as the action OF the sem
ate itself is concerned, nothing to pre-
vent every seat in that body from being
acquired by some millionaire for him
self or his attorney. in the way of
downright purchase very thinly dis
guised. l candidly ask you, can you
imagine anything more calculated to
undermine the moral standing and
authority, not only of the senate but of
the whole government-aye, the sta
bility of our institutions generally
than the refusal of the highest legisla-
tive body in the republic to invest gate
strongly supported charges concerning
the purchase of seats in it by rich men ?
The nomination of men whose only,
or whose principal. strength consists in
the money they have to state governor
ships, VIII CHI this year, beginning with
Maine, shas become strikingly frequent,
is Of the same character. 1t means
corrupt on in some way. To express it
in the mildest language, it means that
not uncommon abilities. not superior
qualificat ons. not distinguished service
on the part of the candidate, but the pos.
session of large funds by him is in
some way depended upon as the decis-
i've influence to determine the action of
the party and of the voting body.